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Economy & Markets

FDOT shortlists 4 proposals for I-4 Ultimate Project

As efforts to reconstruct Interstate 4 in the metro Orlando area move forward, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) announced Wednesday, it has accepted four (4) Technical Proposals in response to a Request for Proposals. On June 5, 2013 FDOT shortlisted four proposers for the I-4 Ultimate project. All four...

Florida Realtors: Housing market improved in 2013

Florida’s housing market ended 2013 with more closed sales, higher pending sales, higher median prices and a reduced inventory of homes for sale compared to the year before, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors on Tuesday.

New modes of transit under consideration for State Road 50

Orange County residents, long plagued by traffic congestion, delays and poor planning, got an opportunity to offer their ideas on how they would like to see public transit issues addressed along State Road 50, perhaps for generations to come. In three separate interactive community workshops last week, LYNX consultants solicited...

SunRail gives away free round-trip tickets with pass purchase

Scheduled to begin picking up paying passengers on May 1, SunRail commuter train will offer a free round-trip ticket to any one at two downtown Orlando office towers.

CVS to pull cigarettes from shelves, gives reputation big boost

CVS, the nation's second-largest pharmacy chain, announced Wednesday that it would stop selling all cigarettes and tobacco products nationwide by October, saying it is incompatible with the drugstore company taking on a bigger role as a health-care provider. Public health experts hailed the decision as an unprecedented step and hopes...

Radioshack celebrates closure of 500 stores one year ago by closing another 500

One year after it closed 500 stores, Radioshack is set to celebrate its first anniversary by closing another 500 stores, over the next few months.  These additional store closures will amount to 12% of the retailer's total 4,500 outlets currently in existence. According to the Wall Street Journal, the company...

Why is State business with Black-owned companies cloaked in mystery?

Florida Governor Rick Scott’s administration isn’t making it easy to track the amount of Black business being done with the state of Florida. In an effort to report on the amount of state goods and services provided by Black businesses over the past three Florida gubernatorial administrations, the Florida Courier...

What’s in a name? WCF re-habs its image

You might well ask. But beginning next week, Workforce Central Florida will attempt to re-brand itself with a new name, new look and perhaps a re-dedication to its core mission - putting Central Florida residents to work.

Gov. Scott rolls out $74 billion proposed budget

Calling it "It's Your Money Tax Cut Budget," Gov. Rick Scott on Wednesday rolled out a $74 billion proposed budget for the 2014-2015 fiscal year.

Grayson introduces bills to bring relief to business owners, middle class families

  Congressman Alan Grayson (FL-09) has introduced twelve bills aimed at continuing certain tax deductions and credits for one year. These provisions, which save Americans money and boost the economy, have already expired or will expire this year.  The Grayson bills introduced today would amend the Internal Revenue Code to extend...

Orlando construction company hailed as success story

R.L. Burns, Inc., a full service general construction and construction management company in downtown Orlando, was hailed as a success by U.S. Small Business Regional Administrator, Cassius Butts, earlier this week.

Wallace shares best practices with local business owners

Businessman Derrick Wallace, candidate for Orange County Commission District 6 said, the most important aspect of being successful in business is, being committed to it.

AC Out…Or is it? Know before you call

Protect yourself: If a little thing happens, make sure you know enough to not get ripped off.

Walmart teams up with tomato pickers, joins Fair Food Program

Walmart today joined with its Florida tomato suppliers and the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) to strengthen and expand the groundbreaking Fair Food Program.

JCPenny to close 33 stores, 2 in Florida

J.C. Penney plans to close 33 of its underperforming stores across the country, including two in Florida, the company announced late Wednesday.

Little Greek Restaurant expands to Orlando

Tampa-based Little Greek Restaurant announced today, it is expanding to the Orlando market, after opening its 12th Tampa Bay area location last November.

Obama offers poor communities a little help

President Barack Obama announced today, five economically hard-hit communities where direct federal support would be provided to help fight poverty and assist children. Called "Promise Zones," Mr. Obama said, federally agencies will cut through red tape with the view to helping the residents struggling in these communities get back on their...

Is College Pricing different from Discount Retail Sales?

The pricing of higher education at colleges and universities in many ways resembles that of holiday retail sales with its discounts.

“In The Beginning”: A little More than a Bookstore

In August 2007, 'In the Beginning' which is located at 863 Orange Ave in Daytona Beach, held its grand opening and has never looked back.

Walmart: Low-wage workers donate food to each other

A Walmart in Canton, Ohio, recently held a food drive for its own employees, sparking outrage in the area.

A/C Programmable Thermostats

Programmable thermostats make it easier to manage temperatures at certain times, which can save you up to 20% on your energy bills over the year.

Death of a Local Business

Last Saturday, I saw the closing of yet another local business. The business has been a giant alligator that has eaten more money than it has produced over the years. Sounds familiar?

Embraer to bring jobs to Brevard County

Embraer announced Tuesday, it will expand its current facilities in Melbourne, with the addition of a new aircraft assembly line for the Legacy 500/450 twin-engine business jets.

Whoa! Walmart CEO: Most workers earn less than $25,000

President & CEO of Walmart U.S. Bill Simon, in a slideshow presentation, implied that most of its associates, about 525,000, earned less than $25,000 last year.

Amazon raises minimum purchase for free shipping from $25 to $35

Amazon, the giant retailer, raised its minimum purchase for free shipping from $25 to $35 on Monday.

UrbanShoppe debuts just in time for holiday shopping season

A new online shopping destination, UrbanShoppe, is set to debut just in time for the 2013 holiday shopping season. U

Orlando gas prices continue to fall

Average retail gasoline prices in Orlando have fallen 1.1 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.20 per gallon yesterday.

Treasury Secretary to Congress: Raise the debt limit or face dire consequences

Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew on Thursday, urged lawmakers to raise the government's debt limit or face the consequences of sustained damage to the U.S. economy and by extension the rest of the world economy.

Who’s panicking?

Wall Street’s lack of worry reflects cynicism about Washington, but also a deep misreading of how significant the ideological fissures are in the capital.

Caught! Florida’s 2nd largest Insurer pays hefty fine for unsavory practices

The second largest property insurer in Florida, Universal Property & Casualty Insurance Company, has agreed to pay a substantial fine of $1.2 million, for engaging in unsavory business practices.